August/September Highlights, 2024

• The Rocky River City School District continues to perform among the top school districts in academic achievement in the state of Ohio, according to the results of the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) report cards. RRCSD received the highest possible overall rating of 5 stars, as well as 5 stars in all five components of the report card; Student Achievement, Progress, Gap Closing, Graduation Rate and Early Literacy.
• One of only 18 districts in the state to receive an overall 5-star rating and 5 stars in all five components, RRCSD earned a Performance Index (PI) score of 110.2, ranking fourth in the state out of 607 districts. It marks the 13th consecutive year that Rocky River has ranked among the top 10 districts in Ohio, including nine of those years in the top 5.
• RRHS seniors Colin Alber, Brynn Bennett and Beatrix Stickney earned the distinction of National Merit Semifinaliss, while Keira Kishna, Thomas Malquest, Ryan Nazette, Robert Roe, Julia Schmid, Michael Swallow and Vincent Valente were recognized as National Merit Commended Scholars.
• Seven Rocky River High School students have received academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Program for 2024. These programs celebrate students’ hard work in high school and showcase their strong academic performances. Listed below are this year’s recipients from RRHS:
  • Sarah Knox, First Generation Recognition Award
  • William Lucic, First Generation Recognition Award
  • Koreen Manja, First Generation Recognition Award
  • Ayad Mehulic, First Generation Recognition Award
  • Caroline Miller, National Hispanic Recognition Award
  • Dulce Pfeifer, National Hispanic Recognition Award, National Indigenous Recognition Award
  • Turner Strickland, African American Recognition Award
• Goldwood counselor Erin Pontikos was named the 2024 Teacher of the Year and RRHS Educational Aide Med Milner was named the 2024 Employee of the Year at Convocation.
• RRCSD and Rocky River PTA hosted a number of Homecoming activities leading up to the football game against Lakewood on September 20, including a food truck tailgate, parade and online raffle. Rose Murray was crowned Homecoming queen and Sam Fadel was named Homecoming king. 
• RRCSD was once again awarded the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) Trusted Learning Environment (TLE) Seal, a national distinction awarded to school districts implementing rigorous privacy policies and practices to help protect student information.
• A trio of Rocky River High School students - Sydney Allen, Sam Fadel and Andrew Saab  - were invited to perform at Severance Music Center earlier this month at the Greater Cleveland School Superintendents Association fall meeting.
• Students and staff at Rocky River Middle School raised more than $12,000 during Kick-it, a program of Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) to help raise money for childhood cancer research.
• All Kensington third graders received a dictionary from the Lakewood/Rocky River Rotary Club, continuing the tradition that began in 2005.
• Nick Crull, a member of the RRHS sailing team, won the MISSA Cressy qualifier, and will compete at the national championship in late October.
• The girls golf team finished first at the LEGGA Championship for the third straight year.
• The boys golf team placed second in the Cleveland West Conference tournament. The finish, combined with River’s performance in conference matches and the Aug. 26 CWC Preview tournament, allowed the Pirates to claim a share of the 2024 conference title.